There was a little surf on turf as Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library held its second Ocean Day on the lawn Aug. 13. Families gathered to learn about marine life with hands-on activities and chats with volunteers from around the coast. 

Scientists from Bigelow Laboratory brought samples of kelp they collected from the Gulf of Maine to teach kids about its diverse role in marine ecosystems. PhD student Shane Farrell said kelp forests around the world provide habitat for fish and invertebrates, help mitigate coastal erosion and slow wave energy, help remove heavy metals and pollutants from the water, and are critical to Maine’s growing aquaculture economy. However, kelp forests in Maine are shrinking.  

“Historically, Maine has had kelp forests. But due to warming waters, we're seeing that kelp forests are disappearing in the south,” he said. “In their place comes this little red filamentous algae. So, it's like going from a terrestrial forest to a grassland. And we study at Bigelow and in (Doug Rasher’s lab) how that changes the whole ecosystem from fish all the way down to microbes.” 

Farrell had a tank of kelp and red algae on hand to compare. He said the algae presents new challenges, especially for aquaculture. He pointed to a section of a lobster trap covered in what looked like Elmo the Muppet’s red hair. Farrell said the algae clogs up underwater gear, and removing it costs aquaculturists significant time and money. 

Kids also did hands-on activities like crafting seaweed-inspired postcards and plankton models out of crafting supplies. New England Aquarium scientist Camille Ross taught families about these tiny organisms that play a huge role in ocean ecosystems.  

“Plankton are super important in the ocean ecosystem,” she said. “Phytoplankton, for example, form pretty much the base of the food web, and most other creatures that live in the ocean depend on them in some way.” 

Ross studies the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, who eat plankton. She said an important component of species conservation is understanding where they are. “Whales follow their food. So, understanding where the plankton are is a really important component of understanding where the whales might go,” she said.  

Later in the day, Terry Perkins Mitman from Marine Mammals of Maine gave a presentation on seals. Mitman, author of the children’s book “A Seal Named Sunshine,” talked about what to do if you come across a seal on the beach, their journey from stranded to release and how best to help them. Find out at https://www.mmome.org/strandings/

Overall, Bethany Schmidt, the library’s programs & technology manager, said the event went well and she hoped everyone had a good time.  

“We always hope that everyone has fun and everyone has a memorable time at the library,” she said. "I think this is a fun program that looks beyond just the day of (the event). Kids and adults can take home with them some knowledge and some fun facts that they can remember when they're at the beach the next time they're there.”